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The same old answer
Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, May 3rd, 2011 - 27 comments
If Don Brash is the answer, what’s the question?
John Key’s shakey government
Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, May 3rd, 2011 - 35 comments
The Nats have ‘soft-launched’ via Kiwiblog and Whaleoil that Rodney Hide and John Boscawen will both lose their portfolios and ACT will have no ministers. Farrar points out this will benefit ACT’s taxpayer funding to the tune of $130,000, which is somehow sweet while spending $500,000 on a by-election to get a mandate is a serious crime.
Armstrong on Brash+Key
Written By: - Date published: 9:57 am, April 30th, 2011 - 37 comments
John Armstrong doesn’t get much wrong in the assessment of the Brash take over. Brash, with his Hollow Men legacy, anti-Maori posturing, and loony economic policies, is very much Key’s problem now.
ACT: bought by the Nats for a song
Written By: - Date published: 7:12 am, April 29th, 2011 - 123 comments
The Left are rubbing our hands with glee at the prospect of taking on BrashKey, but make no mistake, Key wanted this coup too. Think about it: former Nat Leader Don Brash, former Nat Minister John Banks, Nat money man Alan Gibbs, former Nat President Michelle Boag – and it goes down while John Key is far away playing smile and wave in Europe.
National lines ruined…
Written By: - Date published: 4:22 pm, April 28th, 2011 - 64 comments
Some National memes that they’ve been running against the opposition parties are somewhat ruined by A Brash Act…
Brash new world
Written By: - Date published: 1:51 pm, April 28th, 2011 - 49 comments
So, just as Irish predicted, Calvert was the swinging voter, and Brash has now achieved his hostile takeover of ACT. Goodbye Rodney, and good riddance. What does this do to the political landscape? Here are some preliminary thoughts.
Hide gone by lunchtime
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, April 28th, 2011 - 174 comments
Rodney Hide has resigned as Leader of the ACT Party.
While not actually a member of the Party, Don Brash will now lead ACT.
Calvert switches support to Brash
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, April 28th, 2011 - 77 comments
ACT’s newest MP Hilary Calvert is reported to have changed her support from Hide to Brash. That means the leadership of New Zealand’s most rightwing party will transfer to someone who isn’t currently even a member of the ACT Party.
UPDATE: Hide expected to announce resignation at midday
Blanket Man to make bid for ACT leadership
Written By: - Date published: 7:09 am, April 28th, 2011 - 15 comments
Ben ‘Blanket Man’ Hana has thrown his loin cloth into the contest for ACT’s leadership. Despite not having any political experience, Blanket Man says he is the man for the job due to his firm commitment to laissez-faire economics, his excellent face recognition, and the virtue that he is not a tired, old, has-been, racist arsehole.
What next for Rodney?
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, April 27th, 2011 - 26 comments
ACT Leader Rodney Hide will soon be out of a job. I doubt he’ll be in the running for any prime SOE chairs like Jim Bolger, and all the best jobs at the UN are taken by competent people. Jenny Shipley went in to the HR business and Mike Moore became a WTO lapdog.
So what next for Rodney?
The Mana Party & the Money Party
Written By: - Date published: 12:13 pm, April 25th, 2011 - 48 comments
Hone Harawira is set to launch his Mana Party next weekend, possibly triggering a by-election in Te Tai Tokerau at the same time. At the other end of the spectrum, Don Brash’s haphazard to take over ACT may actually just be casus belli for him to establish a New Right Party.
Nats try to warn off Brash
Written By: - Date published: 10:27 am, April 24th, 2011 - 79 comments
Tweedledum and Tweedledee were a bit slow off the mark responding to the news that Don Brash is looking to take over ACT. Took the Nats a while to get their lines together but have decided, on balance, they want ACT dead. And that will be a lot easier to achieve if Brash isn’t in charge.
Brash to roll Hide?
Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, April 23rd, 2011 - 100 comments
Brash has thrown his hat in the ring for ACT’s leadership.
If the best the far right can do is a failed National MP warmed over then things are looking up.
Epsom a done deal
Written By: - Date published: 2:57 pm, April 19th, 2011 - 43 comments
Recently Irish Bill wrote on the Nats’ dilemma in Epsom. Looks the deal is now done, and predictably Key has decided that he needs ACT’s numbers (however small).
Rodney (still) wrecking the wacky party
Written By: - Date published: 3:41 pm, April 14th, 2011 - 13 comments
You almost have to admire Rodney Hide for his total contempt for political reality. He has managed to annoy aged GoldCard users with his comments on their off-peak free use of public transport. There’s also a horrible irony in Hide opposing publicly funded transport for people who aren’t him or his girlfriend.
The racist party
Written By: - Date published: 12:57 pm, March 15th, 2011 - 93 comments
3-time election loser Don Brash spoke at the ACT conference on the weekend. It was an attempt to revive the Owera days with an anti-Maori speech. When he made a ‘they don’t know how lucky they are’ reference to how Australians used to “shoot the natives”, a ACT member yelled “bring that back” and the audience laughed.
What do you think Righty – a perfect score?
Written By: - Date published: 1:30 pm, February 17th, 2011 - 50 comments
Even the most optimistic lefty can’t deny that National are continuing to dominate the opinion polls. That must be quite a source of pride and confidence for the Right. But I wonder, is there anything that rightwing voters believe this National-led Government has done wrong? A couple of years ago I asked what rightwing voters thought […]
New Right Party?
Written By: - Date published: 10:11 pm, February 13th, 2011 - 6 comments
There’s a somewhat fact-free article today on the possible challenge of a new “centre-right” party in Epsom. Whilst an interesting possible development, there’s no substance as to who’s behind the party or any credentials. The most we get is that John Banks has heard a rumour. Presumably there’s more to the story, does anyone have […]
Student freedom
Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, December 22nd, 2010 - 109 comments
National and Act are attacking student unions. The cover story is freedom of association, but it’s bollocks, freedom of association is already protected. Without the unions students will still have to pay. But they will lose the rich social and cultural heritage of the unions, lose the learning experiences that the unions provide, and lose their independence. Hey students – does that sound like a good deal to you?
NIWA vs the nutters
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, December 19th, 2010 - 19 comments
NIWA has had some of their data, methodology, and results checked by the aussies. As expected by anyone who knows something about the subject, they came back with substantially the same result. For the others like the nutters at the CSC and their political allies – well I can just see another conspiracy theory arising…
Abomination becomes law
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, December 9th, 2010 - 45 comments
Paul Quinn’s appalling Electoral (Disqualification of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Act passed last night with the support of just two parties – ACT and National. We’ve talked about why this law is so bad in the past. The Attorney-General agreed it is an unjustified breach of our human rights. Why did ACT, the supposed ‘Liberal Party’ vote for it?
What would a National win mean in 2011?
Written By: - Date published: 9:28 pm, December 6th, 2010 - 49 comments
In my final post I look at the possible influence coalition partners could have on a future National government. Even if Labour loses in 2011, an outright win for right-wing economic doctrine is not necessarily on the cards.
Unravelling at both ends
Written By: - Date published: 11:57 am, November 26th, 2010 - 42 comments
The new foreshore and seabed deal is going sour for the government at both ends. The Maori Party is in a state of virtual civil war with the fundi faction led by Hone Harawira gaining support against Tariana Turia’s sell-out faction. Meanwhile, National is feeling the heat as ACT targets its redneck vote.
Charging for the foreshore
Written By: - Date published: 1:32 pm, November 2nd, 2010 - 9 comments
I don’t know about you, but I have certainly been confused about ACT’s move to insert a last-minute clause into the new Marine and Coastal Areas (Takutai Moana) Bill (proposed replacement for the Foreshore and Seabed Act). Canterbury legal academic David Round sets out some of the issues involved. With deep divisions within Maoridom, and a growing conservative backlash, this mess isn’t going away any time soon…
Why the Right is worried 4: Polls
Written By: - Date published: 11:57 am, October 21st, 2010 - 41 comments
The trend is quite clear now. The Right’s support peaked and the Left’s support reached is nadir last year. The gap has been gradually closing ever since. From a 24.5% gap between National and ACT a year ago, the gap in the latest Roy Morgan has fallen to 5.5%. About quarter of a million Kiwis have switched their support to the Left in a single year.
ACT – one law for all?
Written By: - Date published: 10:13 am, October 15th, 2010 - 19 comments
Hillary Calvert introduced an amendment this week to change the Marine and Coastal Act. In keeping with Act’s philosophy of One Rule For All it denies Maori the right to charge for access to beaches, whilst allowing current private owners to (continue to) charge access fees.
More ACT identity theft?
Written By: - Date published: 3:30 pm, October 13th, 2010 - 20 comments
In recent days, David Garrett has been spotted hanging around Parliament. Now, The Standard has acquired a picture of ACT’s new MP, ‘Hilary Calvert’, arriving at Parliament. It raises further identity theft questions within the party.
Evidence suggests that the real Calvert was brain-dead at least two weeks ago.
Prendergast doesn’t get it
Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, October 13th, 2010 - 40 comments
According to Kerry Prendergast, STV may cost her election as mayor of Wellington, and therefore it is undemocratic. Good doublethink there Kerry.
UPDATE: Prendergast really doesn’t get it – Celia is Mayor!… Lost by 176 votes.
Hide begging for his political life
Written By: - Date published: 3:02 pm, October 11th, 2010 - 74 comments
So Rodney Hide is reduced to publicly begging for his political life, asking National for an easy ride in Epsom. It will be interesting to keep an eye on National’s response. Especially with the name of defeated Auckland Mayoral candidate John Banks already being mentioned…
Caption Contest
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, September 30th, 2010 - 39 comments
“The Cabinet Manual clearly states that Ministers are responsible to me for their ethical behaviour, not for their judgment.” “Mr Hide has carried out his affairs in a personal and private capacity to a high ethical standard.” John Key, 22 Sep 2010
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